REVIEW |
Last Sunday the Percy Hunt staged a 6 race card at Ratcheugh. The weather was great for the time of year, as it has been for the last two weeks, and a consequence of the fine weather was firm ground and a dearth of runners. Only
two went to post for the Members and Incroyable Mais Vrai and Tom Oates
made race fitness count over Little Santa and Kirstie Hargreave. The
winner was sent on early on the second circuit and the issue was soon
settled. The
restricted attracted 4 runners and saw Thomas Scott and How Burn make all
and comfortably hold the hard ridden Raging Torrent. The Other Half was a
distant third after The Broken Man departed at the last when held by the
first two. Five
runners contested the short maiden and three were virtually upsides on the
run to two out. That’s Progress and Tom Oates looked to be traveling
best but fell leaving Offspringer and Luke Morgan to fight it out with
Inglemotte Miss and Richard Nichol. Luke Morgan conjured a splendid leap
from Offspringer at the last to jump past his rival and the pair just held
sway all the way to the line. A stewards enquiry was quickly called as the
pair had come close on the run in but any interference was considered
accidental and the result stood. Three
went to post for the Alnwick Grand National and most expected hot
favourite, Knight Templar, to make short work of his two rivals. Young
Steven pulled up on the final circuit after never being comfortable on the
ground leaving Harden Glen as the only danger and what a danger he proved
to be. He looked to be traveling much better than the favourite but Lee
Bates’ experience eventually told up the straight and he drove the
favourite home for a hard earned length victory. With more experience the
runner ups novice rider may well have landed the spoils. The
confined was a match but provided a decent race with eventual winner Dream
Of My Life and Gaultier Gale duelling for most of the race. It was only in
the straight that Gaultier Gale cracked leaving Luke Morgan to steer Dream
Of My Life home and land a double on the day. Fourteen
contested the Maiden but from a long way out it really only concerned Over
The Urrin and the fences. Sent on by Roger Green on the second circuit the
winner jumped for fun and soon built up an unassailable lead. Over The
Urrin got a little weary on the run to the last but the rest of the field
headed by Starbuck and Rye Rum were so far adrift it made no difference.
The winner showed he handles this ground and on this evidence could well
score again. |